SPIRITUAL DIARY
Date: 05-16-04
My Worship Time Focus: Knowing,
living and loving in the truth
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: 2John 1-3
Message of the verse: “1 ¶ The elder, To the chosen lady and her
children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the
truth—2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us for
ever: 3 Grace, mercy and peace from God
the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth
and love.” (NIV)
In verse one John
describes himself as the “elder” to whom he is writing this letter. Some scholars believe that John is writing to
a local church that possibility meets in the home of this “chosen lady.” Some think that he is just writing to this
local church, and calls the church “chosen lady.”
John uses the word “truth” four times in these first
three verses, so it must be assumed that the truth is very important to
John. In the gospel of John, he used the
word truth on different occasions to describe the Lord Jesus Christ, and also
the Word of God. Another reason that
John is using the word truth in this letter is to remind his readers of the
truth as opposed to someone trying to teach a lie to them. There were people going around teaching the
truth in this early period of the church age, and there were people going
around teaching a lie too.
As stated above the Lord Jesus Christ is the truth, (John
14:6), and also the Word of God is the truth, (John 17:7), and also the Lord
has given us the “Spirit of truth” to guide us along our path, (John 14:16-17;
16:13).
John said that not only he loved this “lady” in the
truth, but also all who know the truth, and the reason for them loving her too
is because of the truth that they have in them, and this truth will be with us
forever.
He goes on in verse three to speak of grace, mercy, and
peace, and again truth and love at the end of the verse. It is God’s grace that has saved us. Grace can mean God’s riches at Christ’s
expense. It also means that God has
given to the believer something that he can never deserve or earn. Mercy is God holding back what we all
deserve. Truth has been discussed
before, and love is the Greek word “agape,” which is the kind of love that God
loves us with, and the kind of love we can love others with as the Holy Spirit
pours out this love in our hearts. John
uses the word peace in verse three also, and the way to get peace is to receive
grace and mercy from God. Romans 5:1
states, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”
Spiritual meaning for my life today: I want to live in the “truth” today, and not
only today, but also every day of my life. How am I to do that? By spending time in the Word of God each day,
by listening to those who teach the truth, and by depending upon the Holy
Spirit of Truth to teach me and to lead me in the paths of righteousness.
The Word of God was very
refreshing to my heart as I read and studied it this morning.
My Steps of Faith Today: To live in the truth, to trust the Lord with
the trial that He has seen fit to send my way, to depend upon the Spirit of God
to guide and direct my path each day.
Memory verse for the week:
1Corthinians 13:1
If I speak with the tongues
of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a
clanging symbol.
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